Christmas visit to Arkansas

We went back to visit Matt's family the week after Christmas.  The kiddos loved having more presents to open!  There was still snow leftover from the major storm they got on Christmas Eve.  It was Maura's first snow and she loved playing in it!  Matt's Dad got sworn in as Justice of the Peace and Matt went to take pics.  We went down to Conway to shop one day and found Matt's alumni brick on the UCA campus.  We thought we might have trouble locating it, but it was right next to where we parked!  We also went down to the Little Rock Zoo one day.

 

Yes, the words "You'll shoot your eye out" were said :)

Crazy snow monster!

Building a snowman

Matt's Dad getting sworn in

Matt's alumni brick

Standing in the middle of the painted AstroTurf field (Go Bears!  Fear the Stripes!)

Looking at a Silverback at the Zoo

Suspicious Silverback

Farmer Aiden

On the Merry-Go-Round

Excuse me, but I believe an animal has escaped its cage...

Christmas at Grammy Nancy's

We spent a few days at Beth's Mom's house over Christmas.  Kelly and her girls, Linley and Alice, came over Christmas afternoon and we all had a big lunch together - after opening presents, of course!  We came home that evening since Matt had to work the next day.  We had a few more presents to open at home, then the next week we were back in Arkansas for yet more presents!

 

Aiden's Elf on the Shelf, Zizzle, followed us!

More HALO stuff - of course!

Autobots?  Or Matt and Will?  Only they know the truth...!



Will holding his signed pics of Herschel Walker & DJ Shockley

Will and his basketball head game :)

Big brother love :)

Christmas Eve after the kiddos went to sleep

Another view of the presents

Aiden trying on Matt's "Beard Beanie"

Alice & Linley opening their presents

Last of the presents at our house!

Thanksgiving AR visit

We visited Matt's family in AR over Thanksgiving.  Aiden had a whole week off from school!  We had another birthday celebration for him the first Saturday we were there.  Unfortunately, I got sick and missed most of the party :(  But he had fun and got more HALO stuff - of course!  We got tickets to the Arkansas/LSU game that next Friday and spent the day with Matt's roommate from UCA and his wife, and mutual friends.  We hadn't seen them in a long time so it was great to catch up!

 

 

Blowing out the candles

 

Yes, more HALO stuff!

 

Matt and Shawn, UCA roomies

Tina, Cherie (Shawn's wife) and Beth at the tailgate before the game

Aiden's 6th birthday party!

We had Aiden's birthday party on 10 Nov in our backyard.  The weather was perfect and everyone had a great time!  We'll be visiting Matt's family over Thanksgiving break, which will include Aiden's real birthday, so we'll have another celebration while we're there.

 

Backyard setup

HALO cake made by the Commissary

Make a wish!

Uncle Will and Maura

Pirate pinata

Aiden broke it and all the stuff went flying!

Opening presents

Relishing his HALO presents

All his presents!

What a goof :)

Halloween!

Halloween this year was boo-riffic!  Aiden went as Captain Jack Sparrow, and I made Maura's costume.  I'll let you guess what she is...*

 

Crazy carvers

Getting ready

Cheese!

Here's a hint...she's a bird of some sort...

Captain Jack Sparrow and his sidekick

The cuteness!

Candid Sparrow

Side view

Aiden is such a great big brother

Cuteness overload!!

Our front porch

*Maura was mis-identified as a turkey (yes, a turkey) and a phoenix (um...no.).  Have you guessed what she was yet?? :)